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Communication

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It's getting to the point where we have so many ways to communicate, we've lost the art of conversation. Through this, we're also starting to lose the skills to relay messages via the written form. What happens is, we have no way to be interrupted, so the shy wait, the angry rant, the humble listen, the sad don't respond and the happy gloat.

And then there is one person who is no a microcosm of all the narcissism in the world today. Someone who has realized they can simply make a comment, whether it be via Twitter, a public statement, a speech or any other means and they can say whatever they like and not have to deal with the response or the repercussions. Yet, he didn't invent this and to be completely honest, he doesn't even do it very well.

The other day, I open an e-mail and read a death notice. It saddened me, for two reasons. One, the person did more for me during my youth than most. He afforded me the luxury and yes, I know it was a luxury, of going to the best school in NYC for five years. It saddened me, because I think of his hilarious wife and my mischievous friend, their daughter. A woman, who I've heard went on to be a huge success. It saddened me because the message was followed by negative and how it affected the conveyor of the message. Why would you tell someone of a death and make it about yourself, while others still suffer?

Communication is our most important ability. Every species has their ability to convey so much with a look, a gesture, even a grunt. And yet, there are still some humans, who have walked this Earth for 70 or 80 years, who can't convey a message, because they fear a response of any type. A response takes away their power, because in that very second, the topic is no longer controlled by them and ceases to be about them.

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